**5. Breeding management**

### **5.1 Selection**

Genotype of an individual is determined by the genes received from the buck and doe at fertilization (union of sperm and ova) and remains the same throughout life except in few circumstances. Therefore improving genetic superiority of kids depends on the careful selection of superior bucks and does and mating them appropriately. Thus, selection is the most basic and common tool being practiced for genetic improvement in the major economic traits of goats. It is the process of choosing superior goats (male and female) from the herd that are likely to be the parents of the next generation.

Selection, whether based on individual, family, or pedigree, is dependent upon the economically important traits (meat, milk, pashmina, etc.) of the selected genes. Goats in Nepal have been mostly selected for meat production. However, the mountain goats are also being selected for pashmina (fiber) production, and in very rare cases, they are being selected for increased milk production. These traits are quantitative and are influenced by many genes (additive, dominance, and epistatic). Chyangra goats produce up to 2–3 kg pashmina fiber annually.

There is potential to develop dual-purpose meat and fiber producers but only under improved nutritional conditions compared to present day. Thus, there is great possibility of developing Chyangra as a dual-purpose goat breed in mountain ecosystem.

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*Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal*

(soundness, fertility, etc.) of the individual and flocks.

goats in general for their genetic for improvement:

• Resistance to internal parasite—good growth

• Prolificacy (twining)

• Carcass yield and quality

• Quantity of pashmina fiber

area and more Pashmina yield)

the predicting indicators of fleece weight are:

• Size of the animal

• Length of fiber

• Diameter fiber

• Completeness of cover

• Differences in density

for improving:

• High growth rate (greater finishing weight at slaughter age)

• Kid rearing (less kid mortality—milking ability of does)

• Quality of the fiber (fineness, length, color also matters)

chalky white hair mixed in the fleece), and desirable lock formation.

In selecting for fiber, one is interested in both quantity (weight) and quality of fiber (length, fineness, style, character, absence of Kemp, etc.). In addition to fiber, one must be concerned with traits that contribute to the survival or viability

The selection of any breed for a particular ecological domain may not give the desired result if the required care is not paid in selecting genetically superior individual as parents of future generation. Indigenous goat breeds (Chyangra, Sinhal, Khari, and Terai goats) and exotic breeds (Jamnapari, Barbari, Beetal, Saanen, Damascus, Kiko, etc.) have their own importance. Nepal government has focused mainly on selection and mating of the best to the best individuals within the existing indigenous goat population. However, recommendation of the appropriate breeds for the specific ecological belt of Nepal is not consistently working at farmers' level. Here are the important selection criteria breeders are following to select the

• Early age at maturity and regular kidding (3 times in 2 years)—good fertility

Chyangra goats are being selected by the breeders and/or herders to some extent

• Body size and weight trait (correlated response larger body size—larger surface

Selection for pashmina fiber quality includes primarily fiber diameter (finer fibers preferred), length (4 inches minimum), freedom from Kemp (coarse, brittle,

Selection for quantity of pashmina fiber is accomplished efficiently by using fiber weights of Chyangra goats which are being considered as breeding animals. However, history indicates that most producers practice visual selection. In this case

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*
